St. Nicholas news october 2015 price 50p
sally s scribbles It is great to be back with you after a summer break; I have missed you. Abbie had a wonderful summer, full of smiles and laughter as well as lots of hard work and new achievements. It was good to get away, but restful would be an exaggeration. It has been a long summer in various ways and perhaps not the recuperation I had hoped for. I m aware it has also been a very long summer in the life of St. Nick s resulting in the amazing production of The Tree of War. It would be difficult to add to all that has been said of it, but it would be wrong to say nothing. It was a great pleasure to have some colleagues from college come and see the production. It s always nice to bask in the reflected glory of an incredible achievement I had very little to do with, though greatly admire. It takes an enormous amount of grace, patience and commitment to attempt something as ambitious as The Tree of War. I am incredibly proud to be part of a community which comes together to enable and allow these things to happen. It is a great credit to you all. It is easy to think that with the enormity of The Tree of War that nothing else could possibly be happening but, as you know, this is far from true. It is wonderful to see the variety of things that are flourishing in the life of St Nick s at the moment. Rainbows are back, Exploring Theology is continuing to meet with much enthusiasm and excitement, the afternoon group following the Pilgrim Course continues to be a joy and appropriately challenging, Burnage Food 1
Bank is now distributing through St Nick s, we have a number of people preparing for confirmation and there is of course much more besides in terms of worship and fellowship. It is an incredible privilege to be part of this place and to see the ways in which God is working in and through this community. There is, of course, a risk of losing ourselves in the busyness. I am conscious that a lot of effort and energy has been committed in various ways over the past few months and as a community we are tired. I hope that the coming weeks will provide rest and peace and an opportunity to reflect and give thanks for all that has been achieved and to look forward with hope and expectation of all that is to come. I am back at college, back to lectures and essays, and soon back to residentials as well. I am sure in no time at all it will feel like I have never been away. This term brings Christian Doctrine and no doubt many a headache as we start to grapple with concepts such as understanding God as Trinity. The term will fly by and advent will soon be upon us. My hope and prayer for you, and for myself, in a world which is racing by is that there will be rest and cherished moments of peace, stillness and encounter in the presence of the living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Sally 2
Heritage Open Weekend The Heritage Open Weekend was a busy time especially as the final rehearsals for the Tree of War were on at the same time! We welcomed 61 visitors who were guided around as much of the church as was accessible. Many were stunned by the colourful interior compared to the austere exterior. We are grateful to Chorlton Art group and Irene Smith who provided works of art for an exhibition and Jason Smith who provided photographs. Many people helped to staff the weekend but special thanks go to Mr Bevan Taylor who offered a comprehensive history of the church to visitors. The weekend was a valuable opportunity to open the doors to so many people who have passed the church on many occasions and have wondered what it was like inside. It also demonstrated the community support St Nick s gives to the musical, performing and visual arts. While at the same time it showed that this unique Grade 2* listed building requires ongoing maintenance. Thank you to everyone who supported this event and who helped once again to raise the profile of St Nicholas Church. Jill Lomas 3
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Church Rota - October 2015 Warden 8.30am Warden 10.30am Altar Server Lay Assistants Sidespeople Oct 4th Alison Mills Grace Manley Jane Cawley Jane C. Grace M. Brenda M. Colin M. Alison C. Oct 11th Jane Cawley Alison Mills Louise Hollingsworth Louise H. Margaret V. Lyn R. Ann A. Oct 18th Grace Manley Julie Crossley Brenda Maclese Brenda M. Cliff S. Anne T. Anne H. Oct 25th Fred Murphy Jill Lomas Caroline Abiodun Anne T. Anne H. Sybil G. Caroline A. Church Hall Bookings Church Hall and Glass Room are available for Hire. Details are on our website: www.st-nicholas-church.org.uk For bookings please contact: Mrs Caroline Abiodon (0161 431 6535) 5
Sunday, October 4th October Calendar 8.30am Holy Communion (BCP) 10.30am Tuesday, October 6th 7.30pm Taize Parish Communion & Young People s Church Wednesday, October 7th Sunday, October 11th 10am 8.30am Eucharist Holy Communion (BCP) Wednesday, October 14th Sunday, October 18th Wednesday, October 21st 10.30am 10am 2.30pm 8.30am 10.30am 10am Parish Communion & Young People s Church Eucharist Women s Fellowship: S&J Watts, Diana Leitch Holy Communion (BCP) Parish Communion & Young People s Church Eucharist Saturday, October 24th 10.30am-12pm Coffee Morning Sunday, October 25th Wednesday, October 28th St Nicholas Club 8.30am 10.30am 10am 2.30pm Holy Communion (BCP) Parish Communion & Young People s Church Eucharist Women s Fellowship: My Childhood in Pakistan, Miss Leonie Pomfret The new season for the St Nicholas Club starts in September. The subscription is 12.50 per year. Winners are drawn each month. 1st prize: 25 & 2nd Prize: 15 You can apply for as many subscriptions as you like. Extra forms are available in the church entrance. -Fred Murphy 6
the women s fellowship: a good time was had by all On Wednesday 23rd September, 13 members of the Women s Fellowship went to The Wilmslow Garden Centre for afternoon tea (sandwiches, cream cakes and scones) to celebrate 55 years since the foundation of the organization. I would like to thank our committee on behalf of all our members for arranging this happy occasion and also thank the members with cars who chauffeured us so expertly to and from the venue. It was such a lovely afternoon, and everyone enjoyed the fellowship. Can I also take the opportunity to thank the committee for all of the work they have done and continue to do in arranging meetings and outings over the years. For myself, I always enjoy the meetings with many interesting speakers on a variety of subjects, and even if we have no speaker, I always go home feeling much better for the company! Many thanks to you all again. Here s to the next 55 years! With love Muriel Nicol the next women s fellowship meeting will be October 14th, with guest speaker Diana Leitch 7
The Heavenly and Earthly Trinities Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682) Oil on canvas London National Gallery An Analysis of The Heavenly and Earthly Trinities By Irene Smith This work is thought to be an altar-piece. Murillo has given visual form to the belief that Christ is both human and divine of dual nature earthly and heavenly. Christ is placed in the centre of the painting, placing emphasis on His role as the fulcrum of the two families. In this position he forms a part of the Holy or Heavenly Trinity: his father above Him and the dove representing the Holy Spirit below His father. In the bottom half of the painting Christ is together: his human parents, Mary and Joseph, forming the Holy Family. 8
(continued) In Counter Reformation Catholicism this is sometimes thought as the Earthly Trinity - the terrestrial counterpart of the Holy Trinity. The painting shows how the rhetoric of image-making can make a complex and profound point accessible, persuasive and perhaps more attractive to some people- than reading biblical or theologic text. Even in the 21st century, iconography and symbolism can be a useful tool in education, as sadly illiteracy is still present in our world. Through this painting, symbolism can be detected and linked to episodes in Christ s life. 1. The first link to discuss is to the episode of the return from the temple. Luke 2:41-50 Mary asked Jesus why he had worried them by staying behind in the temple, causing them to search for him. Jesus replied, Worry ye not that I must be about my Father s business. With these words Jesus declared his divine paternity and showed for the first time his awareness of being the Son of God. (Although in this particular painting he is seen as perhaps too young there.)we also gain from the picture the theological point that Christ s nature was both human and divine; and that he came to fulfil a divine purpose. The fact of knowing his paternity and divinity is a subject continuously discussed and debated by former and present theologians. 2. A second pointer to be found concerns the piece of stone Christ is standing on in the painting. Is a symbol of an altar; maybe a sacrificial altar? Or intended as a reference to the difficulty of believing Christ to be of dual nature? Christ speaks of himself. (Matt 21: 42) using a metaphor from the Psalms. (Ps 118:22-23) as the rejected cornerstone. 3. St Paul in a letter to the Romans contrasts the gentiles 10
welcoming of Christ in it. People of Israel s rejection of him, describing him as a stumbling stone, and rock of offence. (Romans 9:33) and whoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (1Peter 2:4-8) Christian art is Christian theology in a visual form. Many artists over the centuries have tried to capture Christ s divinity in a variety of media. The Book of Revelation states he is the Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end) and much art is centred on the two events concerning Christ s coming and arrival and also on his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension ie his departure from earthly terrain. So how would you view this painting of the Heavenly and Earthly Trinities? Christ can be presented to viewers as both VICTOR and VICTIM in Christian religious art. So would you call this painting sombre or joyous or? Organisations THE MAKER S CLUB (SUNDAY SCHOOL) Mrs. Margaret Witty (0161 432 2933) For all children aged 3 years upwards in the Vestry at 10.15 a.m. WOMEN S FELLOWSHIP Chairman: Mrs Ann Holmes (0161 434 2245) Second and Fourth Wednesdays at 2.30 p.m. CONFIRMATION CLASSES For young people and adults by arrangement with the Minister. RAINBOWS For girls aged 5 to 7 years. Wednesday evening, 6 pm to 7 pm, in the church hall. 9
The Parish Church of St Nicholas Burnage Sunday Services 8.30 a.m Eucharist (BCP) 10.30 a.m. Family Service and Eucharist Minister Rev d Rachel Mann (0161 432 7009) Organists Vacancy Churchwardens Mrs. Alison Mills (01625 540376) (07932 071977) Ms. Jane Cawley (07745392374) Assistant Wardens Mr. Fred Murphy Mrs. Jill Lomas Mrs. Grace Manley Mrs. Julie Crossley Mrs. Louise Hollingsworth Hon. Treasurer. Mrs. Caroline Abiodun Minutes Secretary Mrs. Ann Ackerman Electoral Roll Officer Mrs. Lyn Rimmer Deanery Synod Mrs. Grace Manley Mrs. Christine Price Elected on PC (in addition to the above officers) Mrs. Alison Cullen Mrs. Margaret Witty Mr. Tony Witty. Mr. David Crossley (ex-officio) Magazine Distribution Mrs. Brenda Maclese Missionary Secretary Mrs. Margaret Vessey www.st-nicholas-church.org.uk St.Nicholas Church, Kingsway, Manchester M19 1PL